by John Nuetzel

Created on: April 15, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

The first rule of understanding a horse's behavior lies in the realization that he is a horse. He is hot or cold, hungry or sated, thirsty or quenched, tired or rested, sore or sound, uncomfortable or mellow. He is at peace with his environs and fellows or he is in a state of hysterical, abject fright. He is a social animal and can easily become lonely or bored.

People communicate with their horses in many different ways, some better and more deeply than others. And there are those with an impenetrable wall of miscommunication and confusion between them and their horse. People also choose their own role in their equine relationship. We know that it is essential to be Alpha in their world, we just choose to be Alpha in different ways, and some methods just don't work while other approaches are ineffectual and silly to downright dangerous.

I don't promote shouting or violence in training except in self defense but if you are a rung down the ladder from your horse, you will not be successful in the relationship and you will both lose. We show them the crop but it is for touch, direction and correction only. There are those who advocate being friends or pals with their horse. This is comforting to the human, but to a horse, a pal is no more than someone who won't eat him and will breathe on his rump on a cold winter's night. So being a pal with a 1200 pound animal works about as well as being a pal with your teenager. In assuming the role of pal, you relinquish all authority and accountability with sadly predictable results.

It is our goal to be consistent, to take command of each of the horse's senses, to become established and maintain our role as the kind and benevolent ruler of the herd, present for a welcomed task with the promise of reward, rest and peace. I want, no, I demand his trust, interest and keen focus as we deal with one another for whatever the day's work might bring. No good can come without comfort and respect.

I begin with the sense of sound. As I approach, I laugh out loud and make chuckling sounds. The horse's reaction is always the same, "Hey, great to see you!" and I am offered either a whinny or a deep, rumbling nicker. Our handshake or hug is accomplished by offering my hand to his nostril, held there until the sense of smell and identification is in full registration. I take care to not offer any vision of confusion or danger by moving slowly and predictably and I make close eye contact, first with one eye then the other. I ask permission

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